After a prolonged period of six months, marked by what they claim to be fruitless contract negotiations, the doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who have formed a union at Ascension St. John are on the brink of resorting to a strike vote, a move that could significantly disrupt patient care.
“We don’t want to strike, we want to take care of patients,” said Dr. John Bahling.
Frustrations over staffing levels have been building for years.
“Will I have the right number of nurses? Will all of our beds be open? Will I see patients who have been waiting for 10 hours and immediately be angry?” Bahling said.
The ER staff has gone as far as creating a website to alert the community to what’s going on.
“We need resources, and that includes consistency,” said PA Casey Kolp.
Ascension St. John contracts its ER doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners through a third party called TeamHealth. Ascension sent over this statement.
Ascension St. John Hospital does not employ emergency medicine physicians and mid-level providers.
Emergency medicine physician and mid-level provider services are furnished to St. John Hospital through a contract with TeamHealth.
Should a strike be called against TeamHealth, TeamHealth has shared a comprehensive contingency plan with the hospital to ensure these contracted provider services are uninterrupted.
St. John Hospital’s emergency room will remain open and operational for anyone seeking care. Patient care will not be disrupted.